Kellyanne Conway Strikes Back at Acosta, Defends WH Aide – ‘She Was Just Doing Her Job’

On Fox News Thursday morning, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway accused CNN White House reporter Jim Acosta of “swiping away” at a “young woman” who attempted to take his microphone away during a verbal altercation with President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

“She was just doing her job, which was to reclaim the microphone that belongs to the federal government, and hand it to the next reporter,” Conway said.

“Obviously, I don’t think anybody should have, any young woman, particularly, should have swiping away at them, grabbing the microphone back,” she added. “That’s very unfortunate. I have talked to that young woman, she is very brave and just doing her job.”

Video of the incident, which can be seen below, shows Acosta attempting to keep the microphone away from the White House staffer, including saying “pardon me, ma’am” and pushing her arm down as she reached for the device.

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1060224231722627072

There has been much controversy over just how much contact there was between Acosta and the aide, with the opinions varying from a light brush to a full-on assault.

Regardless of how severe the contact was, Acosta’s White House press credentials were revoked and he is no longer allowed to participate in press briefings.

“There are journalists here at the White House who every single day try to do their job by getting the story,” said Conway. “Others try to get the president.”

“They shall remain nameless right now, and I think that some people like to grandstand and be part of the story – there is no question about that. We hear that from other journalists,” she continued.

“Maybe they will not come forward and say that, but they say that. They think that some people, not to name names, but make everybody look a little less authoritative and less biased.”

“It’s dangerous – I’ve been physically touched, I have been yelled at, my kids have been threatened. Tucker Carlson, your colleague [at Fox News], he had a mob show up at his house last night, his wife was hiding in a pantry,” she said.

“Let’s talk about red-hot rhetoric. I will stand here all day long in my four-inch heels and talk about it, but I will not let it be made to be the president’s fault.